Box.



G. W. (JOHN.

BOX,

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1909.

Patented May 31, 1910.

INVE NTOR.

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UNITE STATES PANT nrron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1910.

Application filed July 2, 1909. Serial No. 505,598.

To all 207mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES IV. Cor-IN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in boxes and is particularly designed for use in connection with boxes containing gifts of handkerchiefs or other small articles.

The invention consists essentially of a box having on one of its sides (hereinafter called the top a means for mounting a photograph or the like.

In its preferred form the invention comprises a combined box and picture frame, into which latter a photograph or the like may be inserted. It is the intention that the box be sold either unfilled or containing some article suitable for a gift, and that the purchaser shall himself place within the frame a photograph or the like to complete the gift. By preference the cover or one side of the box is so constructed that it can be detached or cut from the remaining part, so that itmay be utilized as a picture holder or frame, or the entire box may be so utilized, if it has the necessary flat form. For this purpose means are preferably provided for holding the cover or box in an upright position, either by providing a suspending means whereby it may be hung, or a supporting means such as a leg or legs whereby it may be used in the same manner as an easel.

The invention provides other improvements which will be hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box looking at its top. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an inside view of the cover. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the box. Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating one use of the device.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate the box as a whole. It is preferably of flat form having a top B, a bottom G and side walls D. In the construction shown the top of the box is formed as a cover or lid having side flanges E, and being preferably hinged to one side of the box body at F.

The most important feature of the invention is the combination of a photographic or other picture frame with one of the sides of the box. Either side may be used, but for brevity I will indicate the side which is used as the top mounting means for the photograph such as the space G to which the photograph may be directly attached. The frame proper is indicated at- H and comprises a suitable inclosure or border which preferably will be given an ornamental configuration, and may be of wood, metal, pasteboard, or the like to secure the desired effect. The space G is preferably left blank or unoccupied, since it is designed to receive the photograph. It may be, however, filled in in any way temporarily, and the photograph applied over the filling design.

In the construction shown the top B is made to extend entirely across the box, and the frame H is applied over the top B. The frame is provided in this case with an opening which outlines the boundaries of the space G. The frame H in the construction shown is free from the top B except around the edges of the frame, while the top B is provided with a slit J which is shown in the rear view of the cover, Fig. 3; at the front of the cover the slit is hidden by the frame H. By this means a photograph or other picture may be inserted in the slit J, and passed down between the top B and the frame H until it reaches its proper position over the space G as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The box in this condition may itself be utilized as a picture holder provided it is of such dimensions as to conveniently lend itself to this use. In such case the box is preferably provided with means for holding it in an upright position, such as a leg K. It may be partially cut from the bottom C of the box, the leg being left attached at its upper end and partially separated along the line L at its lower end. The user will complete the separation at L, and bend the leg backwardly in the usual way so that the box may be used in the same manner as an easel. A suspending tab such as M may be placed on the bottom of the box if desired, so that the box may be hung upon the wall.

In the preferred form of the invention, however, the frame is designed to be detached from the box body, and itself suspended or placed in an upright position. Preferably the top of the box is detached with the frame. the side flanges I of the top may also be left connected with the top proper. I prefer,

Such a frame provides a In the construction shown however, to disconnectthe flanges E by cut ting them upon the line wa2 in Fig. 2, this leaving a frame or easel having inside finished edges N, so that itis not apparent that the frame has once formed a part of a box. On the inner or under side of the top B a suspending tab 0 is preferably arranged, while a leg P is also preferably connected thereto so as to permit the utilization of the device as an easel, as before explained. Fig. 5 illustrates a side elevation of the device thus used. If desired the box may be constructed as illustrated, that is to say, with the several supporting means on the bottom and top attached, so that the user may with pleasure use either the entire box or the cover. On the other hand, these supporting means may be either partly or entirely omitted.

Constructed as herein described, the box may be sold unfilled or may be used as a container or package for articles of merchandise. the purchaser supplying and inserting the photograph or other picture. If it is desired to give the box a more finished appearance up to the time of sale, the space G may be filled in temporarily with a picture by pasting the latter on the top 13 beneath the opening of the frame, or by otherwise arranging the picture in said space. In this case the photograph may be applied directly over the picture.

Vhile I have shown in detail one form of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, as various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The combination of a box having a picture frame mounted on the top thereof, said frame having an opening and a marginal portion surrounding such opening, and means for mounting a photograph or the like with its edges close behind such marginal portion so that its main portion is visible through such opening.

2. The combination of a box having a picture frame mounted on the top thereof, said frame having an opening and a marginal portion surrounding such opening, said box having a portion back of said opening, and a passage in such portion through which a picture may be inserted with its edges behind the marginal portion of the frame.

3. The combination of a box having a picture frame mounted on the top thereof, said frame having an opening and a mar ginal portion surrounding such opening, and means for mounting a photograph or the like with its edges close behind such marginal portion so that its main portion is visible through such opening, and means for suspending the picture frame.

t. The combination of a box having a picture frame mounted on the top thereof, said frame having an opening and a marginal portion surrounding such opening, means for mounting a photograph or the like with its edges close behind such marginal portion so that its main portion is visible through such opening, and a leg or support for holding said picture frame in an upright position.

The combination of a box having a cover, a picture frame mounted on said cover, said frame having an opening and a marginal portion surrounding such opening, and said cover being constructed to permit the insertion of a photograph or the like within such opening, said marginal portion and said cover being separate around said opening so that the edges of the photograph may lie behind said marginal portion.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES \V. COT-IN.

\Vitnesses EUGENE V. MYERS, FRED VHITE. 

